MARYWHO IS SHE IN GOD'S PLAN?

"When the designated time had come, God sent forth His Son born of a
woman." Galatians 4:4

Catholics and the Orthodox maintain Mary is the most important human being
in God's plan, except for her Son, the God-Man, Jesus. Others think that by
honoring Mary we take away from the worship of Jesus. However, Catholics and
the Orthodox say Mary will lead a person to Jesus, just as all good Christians
try to lead their friends to the Lord. After all, Mary's last recorded words in
the Bible were: "Do whatever He (Jesus) tells you" (Jn 2:5). What is Mary's
part in God's plan? Does she mother, minister, and intercede today?

MOTHER'S DAY

"The angel answered her: 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the
power of the Most High will overshadow you; hence, the holy Offspring to be
born will be called Son of God.' " Luke 1:35

the teachings about Mary depend on two Biblical revelations about her
motherhood. Mary is God's mother as she is the mother of Jesus Who is God (Lk
1:32, 35). She is also our Mother by adoption because Jesus told her to take
John and the disciples of all time as her children (Jn 19:26).

Mary is not just the average person; she is God's mother, having conceived
Jesus by the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit. If we understand God's holiness
and the intimacy of the Holy Spirit with Mary in conceiving Jesus, we see that
Jesus' incarnation presupposes that Mary was immaculate from the beginning of
her life. Because Mary was free from sin, she was free from the wages of sin,
that is, death (Rm 6:23). Thus her immaculate conception implies her assumption
into heaven. This does not take away from the glory of her Son or imply she did
not need to be redeemed (see Lk 1:47). In fact, it is an even greater victory
for Jesus. Pope Pius XII taught: "Wherefore, the infinite dignity of Jesus
Christ and His office of universal redemption is not diminished or lowered by
this tenet of doctrine, rather it is greatly increased" (On the Immaculate
Conception, p. 5). In the Bible, Mary is called "full of grace" and
"blessed among women" (Lk 1:28, 42, 45). We have begun to appreciate how
blessed and graced she was and why "all ages to come" shall call her blessed
(Lk 1:48).

Because of Jesus' resurrection victory over death, her mothering is not
stopped by her passing from this life to heaven. Mary's "unique," "preeminent,"
"singular," and yet very human place in God's plan of salvation is not only for
two thousand years ago but for today (Vatican II, The Church, 53). While
Jesus was hanging on the cross He told mother Mary to adopt John and the
disciples of all time as her children. Mary obeyed her Son and she mothers us
until the present day. Now we must obey Him by accepting and honoring her as
our mother, thereby obeying the fourth commandment (Ex 20:12). This commandment
carries with it the promise that it will go well with us and we will have a
long life (Eph 6:3). This applies both to our natural parents and our adoptive
mother. By honoring mother Mary we claim God's precious promises.

DON'T DESPISE PROPHECIES (1 Thes 5:20)

We know Mary is still mothering us by what the Spirit has taught us
concerning John 19:25-27 and also by the Spirit's gift of prophecy. For
example, when Isaiah prophesied: "The virgin shall be with Child, and bear a
Son, and shall name Him Immanuel" (Is 7:14), probably no one understood this to
mean that a virgin would conceive without sexual relations. But the Spirit
later revealed this through Matthew: "He (Joseph) had no relations with her at
any time before she bore a Son, Whom he named Jesus" (Mt 1:23, 25). The Spirit
has taken other Bible passages and given them a prophetic meaning concerning
Mary (e.g. Gn 3:15; Rv 12:1). These prophecies have been tested by Christian
communities across the world for centuries (see 1 Jn 4:1) and therefore are
among the most confirmed and tested prophecies in the history of Christianity.
They help us further appreciate Mary's special mothering role in God's plan of
salvation. Micah prophesied, "Therefore the Lord will give them up, until the
time when she who is to give birth has borne" (Mi 5:2).

MOTHER OF THE CHURCH

"Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother: 'This Child is destined
to be the Downfall and the Rise of many in Israel, a Sign that will be
opposedand you yourself shall be pierced with a swordso that the
thoughts of many hearts may be laid bare.' " Luke 2:34-35

As the Spirit overshadows our understanding by teaching us His word and
pouring out the gift of prophecy, we become more aware of how Mary continues to
mother the church. The titles of Mary are usually prophetic statements about
aspects of her mothering. As Sorrowful Mother, she has the gift to lay bare the
thoughts of many hearts. As Our Lady Of Perpetual Help, she exercises a
powerful intercessory ministry (Jn 2:3). As Spouse of the Spirit, she prays for
a new Pentecost, as she prayed at the first outpouring of the Spirit (Acts
1:14). As Our Lady Of Lourdes, she heals her children. As Our Lady Of
Guadalupe, she evangelizes and ministers to the poor. As Our Lady of Fatima,
she asks us to accept Jesus' call to be peacemakers (Mt 5:9). All these
ministries are aspects of motherhood. Mothers are primarily concerned about
peace among the children in their family. Mothers live to lead their children
to Christ. They intercede for, heal, and serve their children. They often
minister the Spirit to their children. That same Spirit that Mary prayed for at
the first Pentecost now teaches us to appreciate her mothering and to honor her
as mother.

MARY'S MOTHERING IN MY LIFE

"Together they devoted themselves to constant prayer. There were some
women in their company, and Mary the mother of Jesus." Acts 1:14

As a youngster I came to know Mary as my mother. We prayed the family rosary
each evening, and this prayer-time bore fruit in an exceptional family life. I
stayed in touch with Mary throughout high school and college but almost forgot
about her in graduate school. I no longer prayed the rosary daily, for I had
become too sophisticated for such a simple prayer. My life was deteriorating
gradually. My estrangement from Mary was symptomatic of a breakdown of my
relationship with Jesus; I still went to church and prayed but had lost my
first love (see Rv 2:4). I was compromised with the world and no longer loved
Jesus with all my heart and soul (Mt 22:37). I was experiencing meaninglessness
and powerlessness in my life. In l975, one year after my ordination to the
priesthood and one week before Pentecost, after reading Acts 1:14 as I was
preparing for the Sunday homily, I decided to gather some people to pray for
the Spirit. The Spirit came in a torrential outpouring, and almost immediately
the Spirit restored my relationship with Mary and my daily praying of the
rosary. The first time I prayed in tongues was during the rosary. One of the
most effective evangelistic outreaches I have ever witnessed was the result of
a rosary procession. Also, the only time I have seen the Spirit renew a parish
extensively was through the intercession of Our Lady of The Presentation.

MARY'S IMMACULATE HEART AND JESUS' SECOND COMING

"In turn He said to the disciple, 'There is your mother.' From that hour
onward, the disciple took her into his care." John 19:27

The Spirit is using Mary now to prepare the way for her Son's final coming.
In 1917 at Fatima, Portugal, Mary prophesied that Russia could be converted and
her immaculate heart would triumph. We hear of revival in Eastern Europe,
Russia, and China. These events seem to be preparing for the miraculous
fulfillment of the Fatima prophecies and a worldwide evangelistic
explosion.

As the Lord's plan of salvation unfolds and culminates, the Lord seems to
have commissioned Mary to prepare us for His second coming. Therefore, He asks
us to dedicate ourselves to Mary's immaculate heart. The revelation of Mary's
immaculate heart is one of the most confirmed prophecies of all time. Our
dedication to her immaculate heart is a commitment to lay bare our hearts (Lk
2:35) and receive new hearts that are holy, immaculate, and pleasing to the
Lord. It means that we accept Mary's mothering and agree to cooperate with her
as she ministers the Holy Spirit to us, as she did with Elizabeth and John the
Baptist (Lk 1:41). Great athletes or musicians dedicate themselves through
strict obedience and extensive work to a professional coach or virtuoso.
Likewise, to be holy we need to be discipled by others, especially our mother
Mary. Wearing the scapular is a sign that we have decided to cooperate fully
with Mary as she makes us disciples of her Son Jesus.

In conclusion, speak to Mary from your heart:

"Mother Mary, thank you for loving Jesus and being my mother. I dedicate
myself to your immaculate heart. I ask you to pray for, teach, command, correct,
and guide me. I commit myself to cooperate with and obey you so I will grow
to love Jesus with all my heart and stand holy before Him when He comes a
second time."

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